Language and Culture elective course

Edit 0 5 …

Language and Culture

The main theme of this elective will be Hispanic language and culture. This course will identify the cultural and linguistic norms, traditions, and current events of the Hispanic population. Through this course students will be able to identify with the following essential points of interest:

* Cultures vary in their attitudes, practices and perspectives.* How I view myself may be different from how others view me and my culture.* Art, music and literature reflect social, political, religious and aesthetic perspectives of the culture.* We often stereotype or misconstrue other cultures.* How I use language may be different from how other cultures use it.

The following topics will be addressed:

1. Geography

2. History of Spain and the Spanish Conquest

3. Pre-Colombian indigenous groups

4. Myths, Legends, Fables, chupacabras

5. Holidays

6. Food

7. Music/art/dance

8. Immigration

Throughout each of these topics, the culture of language will be explored. Students will learn and practice greetings, hand gestures, idioms, and conversational phrases in the target language.

Outline

1. Geography

· All Hispanic countries including the US

· Capitals

· Nationalities (TL)

· Key geographical features (Rivers/mountain ranges/important cities/ports)

2. History of Spain and the Spanish Conquest

· The Spanish Empire

o History of Spain folder in English

o World History Textbook Ellis & Esler/ prentice Hall

· Las conquistadores/Cristoból Colón

o simple readers in Spanish (Realidades “Reading and Writing for Success: Test # 28

3. Pre-Colombian indigenous groups

4. Myths, Legends, Fables, chupacabras

5. Holidays

6. Food

7. Music/art/dance

8. Immigration



Currriculum:
current curriculum for language and culutre course.doc